Factories of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims set on fire in Chhota Udepur
Monday, Apr 1, 2013, 12:00 IST | Place: DNA | Agency: DNA
Roxy Gagdekar
Dawoodi Bohra Muslims of Chhota Udepur could not believe their ears when someone told them on the phone that their factories and offices had been set on fire by a group of tribals.
Dawoodi Bohra Muslims of Chhota Udepur could not believe their ears when someone told them on the phone that their factories and offices had been set on fire by a group of tribals, allegedly at the instigation of extremist Hindu elements. One of the victims told DNA over phone from Chhota Udepur that offices and properties (together valued at over Rs1 crore) belonging to eight Bohra Muslims
were burnt down by rioters in several villages, including Vachedi, on February 12, 2013.
There was fortunately no loss of life but some traders in the villages of Chhota Udepur had lost almost everything they had. Anees Rajpurwala, who has a business connected to the stone-crushing industry, said that some local people had first looted his shop.
The looters had taken away computers, machinery, television sets and even the cupboards of his office and factory,
Rajpurwala said adding that the factory was then set on fire.
All my important documents related to property, royalty slips and even account books were burnt by the rioters, he said. Rajpurwala further said that he had informed the fire brigade after his factory was set on fire but the fire brigade did not turn up till one-and-a-half hours after his phone call. By then, everything at the factory had been gutted. I and my brother will have to start our business right from the beginning, Rajpurwala said.
Another victim, Hozam Mithawala, said that he had found it difficult to believe that the people he considered his friends had burnt down his factory.
I was too disappointed to mention their names as suspects but I have been told by many people that it was they who had done this to me, he said. Mithawalas factory had been reduced to ashes and he had suffered a loss of over Rs 6 lakh. Another victim, who is so
scared that he does not wish to be identified, said that he is currently running his office from under a tree near what was once his factory.
I cannot stop my business. My office was burnt down and I am left with nothing, he said. He alleged that a group of Sarpanchs of nearby villages were behind the loot and arson attack. I am sure they are being used by some political parties. They could not have done this on their own, the victim said on the condition of anonymity.
Factories of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims set on fire in Chhota Udepur :: DNA
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